Screen Time Restrictions and Instagram

Question

Level 1

18 points

Screen Time Restrictions and Instagram

Hi All,

Anybody having problems getting Screen Time to block Instagram?

We have an iPhone 6s for our kid, with iOS 12.3.1 and use Screen Time to block the phone's use after 9pm. Works like a charm with everything except Instagram.

9pm rolls around and everything else is grayed out and blocked. To use anything you have to enter the passcode or ask for more time, but Instagram is totally unblocked and works with no restrictions.

I've made sure it's not enabled under "Always Allow", and have done quite a bit of research but can't get it to work. Since everything else is blocked as it should, I feel very confident that it is not just a case of forgetting something basic on my end. It is very weird that Screen Time would work as advertised in every other way except this.

Don't know why Instagram specifically is doing this, but as you can text with it too, it is pretty much the primary reason we even want to put a restriction on at a certain time.

Thanks.

iPhone 6s

Posted on Jul 21, 2019 9:17 PM

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Answer 1

chuck_3rd

Community Specialist

Jul 22, 2019 4:32 PM in response to siyarza

Hello siyarza,

Thanks for checking the article. Have you tried setting up App Limits, and ensured Instagram was not inadvertently added to the Always Allow list?

If so, I recommend contacting AppleCare for more help. Use this link to contact AppleCare: Contact - Official Apple Support

Thanks and have a wonderful day.

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Answer 2

Joseph_S.

Community Specialist

Jul 22, 2019 2:41 PM in response to siyarza

Hello siyarza,

Thanks for asking the Apple Support Communities for help with Screen Time. the Instagram app falls under the Entertainment category. There are different ways to set this up.

You have the option to use Downtime to block all Entertainment apps, and allow only specific apps during those times.

You also can set App Limits for Entertainment apps, and also set up what is always allowed.

Please check this help article: Use Screen Time on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch - Apple Support

Thanks and have a wonderful day.

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Answer 3

siyarza Author

Level 1

18 points

Jul 22, 2019 5:06 PM in response to chuck_3rd

It is now obvious that nobody actually reads these posts before responding.

The answer to your question is both in the original post and in the last response. Yes, we've made sure Instagram is not in the "Always Allow" list. App Limits are also set, but that is a different thing. We want to block things after a specific time of day... regardless of how long they have been used. In other words, what Downtime is for.

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Answer 4

figante

Level 1

19 points

Aug 8, 2019 10:38 AM in response to siyarza

I have the same problem here since the inception of Screentime. Here it is both Instagram and Snapchat that aren't blocked as expected. These 2 apps aren't blocked either when the Downtime starts or when my son used the apps for the maximum allowed period of time. The rest of the apps are blocked properly.

I've tried everything I saw on the web, from resetting the screen time app on my phone and my son's phone and restarting both phones, to reinstalling iOs on his iPhone. Itall started with the first iOS 12, currently both his and my phone on the latest versi n (12.4), and problem persists. Any advice would be appreciated.

BTW: No, none of these apps is white listed, and yes, I did try limiting social apps, entertainment apps and these 2 apps individually, (besides the general limit and the downtimes), with no luck.

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Answer 5

siyarza Author

Level 1

18 points

Jul 22, 2019 2:50 PM in response to Joseph_S.

Thanks for trying, and close, but no cigar...

If you read the original question, we are using Downtime, and it works for everything, except Instagram.

That is the reason for posting the question. All other apps behave as expected, with the phone getting locked down except for what I leave in "Always allow" for Downtime.

Instagram on the other hand, seems completely unaffected by Downtime.

Thanks

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Screen Time Restrictions and Instagram

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